Category: Andy’s Adventures

I’m here with five tips for life in all its beautiful feelings when you say goodbye to those kids, whether it be to kindergarten or the third year of college. A larger perspective spreads out before you at the end. Whether those kids are going on a bus, driving themselves to high school, or headed right back into your living room to go to school—remember these things.

Feel however you feel. Elated? Terrified? Sorrowful? Like turning cartwheels and drinking wine right there in the middle of the morning? Whatever, guys. All of those feelings might be cycled through in one hour. It’s OK. Feel them. Don’t feel like you’re “supposed” to feel. We all react differently, and it is no measure of our love for our offspring. No comparisons, no condemnation.

Treasure the firsts and lasts. Don’t wait until senior year of high school to realize you will never have another first day of school, another last packed lunch (hallelujah!), or another Christmas concert. Treasure them all as they happen. I know—at times you will want to eat your own toenails more than you will want to attend another two-hour concert sitting on bleachers. But trust me, treasure it. It will be over. Enjoy the firsts and lasts, big and small, as they happen.

“These words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”​—DEUTERONOMY 6:6, 7.

PARENTS may at times feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of training their children. When they seek advice, however, the sheer volume of counsel on the subject may swamp them further. Relatives and friends are often keen to pass on their suggestions. And books, magazine articles, and Internet sites offer parents a constant stream of sometimes conflicting advice.

The Bible, on the other hand, provides parents not only reliable counsel on what to teach their children but also practical direction on how to teach them. As the Bible verses quoted above indicate, parents need to find some way each day to talk about God to their children. Discussed below are just four Bible-based suggestions that have helped thousands of parents to teach their children about God.

1. Draw lessons from creation. The apostle Paul wrote: “[God’s] invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.” (Romans 1:20) Parents can do much to help their children see God as a real Person by drawing attention to God’s creative works and then helping their children discern what qualities of God those creations reveal. (more…)

About two hours from my house there are some really big mountains. Every summer Dad and his friends like to spend a day in the mountains driving the old four-wheel jeep roads. Mom has said for years I was too young to go. But this year Dad said it was time for me to experience some real mountain adventures. Mom was not happy about this but I was really excited!

I told Andy about this trip. He immediately wanted to go and asked his dad if he could go too—even before I asked him. Well, his dad said yes—if he could go along. This is the first-time Andy’s dad decided to take off a day of work and go with us on an adventure.

Last Saturday Dwayne, Dad and I took off early for the mountains in Dad’s friend’s jeep—with Andy and his dad riding on the brim of my hat so that they could see everything really well. After two hours, we began climbing up the really steep mountains. The road was more like a trail than a real road. We seemed to climbing almost straight up! I had to hold on for dear life—and hoped that Andy and his dad were holding on to my hat brim as well. It was hard to talk to then since they were on top of me. I had never been in such a dangerous place. There were huge boulders right in the road and we slowly had to climb over each one. We also had to go through a rushing stream and the water about covered our big tires. I was sure glad my Dad knew what he was doing.

When we got to the top of the mountain we found a sunny place near a little lake to have lunch. I took off my hat and put it on a big rock. I made sure that Andy and his Dad had some choice crumbs for their lunch. Dad said Dwayne and I could even go for a swim in the lake. What a great idea. We stripped down and I dove in. The water was freezing cold! Dad laughed until he was crying. Needless to say, we did not swim long!

We eventually packed up all of our stuff to leave and begin heading back down the mountain. After an hour of difficult down-hill traveling I suddenly realized I had left my hat on that big rock by the lake. I told Dad that I forgot my hat and really needed it. Dad said we could not go back for the hat now because we had to get home before dark ….

You can finish this adventure by answering these questions:

What did Andy and his dad do during the lunch stop near the lake?

Where are Andy and his dad now?

How is Joey going to get his hat back?

How will Andy and his dad get home?

What lessons do you think Andy, his dad and Joey learned on this adventure?

Every Sunday my family gets ready and goes to Promise Church together. Sometimes I don’t want to go but Mom and Dad say this is a priority. I actually like going because I attend Adventureland with a lot of my friends. We sing, have a lesson based on a Bible story, talk about what we can learn from the story, have a snack and go out to play. My sister, Becky, goes to her own class and Mom, Dad and my brother, Dwayne, go with their friends.

Last Sunday I asked Andy to come along so he could get an idea of what I do every Sunday. This time his mom said yes without Parker or Uncle Andrew coming along. I guess she felt attending church would be a safe place. Andy promised to stay in my shirt pocket. He could peek out and still not be noticed.

My friends and I were having a chat and a snack. Suddenly my friend, Cindy, came up behind me and jerked my chair out from under me. She was just trying to be funny, but I ended up on the floor. All the kids at my table had a good laugh. I laughed too but this was not really funny.

I looked down to my pocket to see if Andy was OK. He was gone! He never leaves my pocket when he is in new places. I had to find Andy without the other kids knowing I was looking for an ant….

Finish this story by answering the following questions:

Where do you think Andy was just before Joey ended up on the floor?

If you were Joey, what would you do to find Andy?

Where did Joey find Andy?

What lesson did Joey and Andy learn from this experience at Adventureland?

Last weekend Andy got permission from his Mom and Dad to go with me to my grandpa’s farm–if Uncle Andrew came along. Uncle Andrew is a really cool retired ant. He likes unexpected adventures and is always easy to talk to. I have been wanting Andy to go with me for weeks and was glad Uncle Andrew could come with us.

When we got to the farm I told dad I wanted to go see grandpa’s chickens behind the big old barn. Dad said ok but to stay out of the barn. Andy and Uncle Andrew, as usual, were in my shirt pocket watching my every step. As we got close to the old barn I remembered what fun I had in there with my cousins that last time we visited. I decided to show Andy and Uncle Andrew this spooky old place. I opened the big old barn door and stepped in. It was really dark and dusty inside. It was eerie and really scary. Andy and Uncle Andrew were amazed at the size of this old place. I headed toward the hay loft so I could show Andy and Uncle Andrew where I jumped into the hay stack.

Suddenly a big wind gust came through the barn and the big door slammed shut behind me. The noise of the door slamming about scared me to death. I could not see a thing because I was now in total darkness. It was totally silent now. Andy and Uncle Andrew never said a word. I don’t think I have ever been more afraid. Eventually I found my way to the door. As I opened the door I looked down to see how Andy and Uncle Andrew were doing. But they were gone! I looked in my pocket and all around my shirt—but they had disappeared….